Intermittent Smoke from under shift boot...

[NateB26]

So every once in a while when i am on the freeway for more than 15-20 minutes a little bit of smoke starts coming up from under the shift boot and metal bracket (not the leather boot but the rubber one under that). it smokes for about a couple minutes than goes away. this only happens in fifth gear, not driving it around town. I dont think its oil on the exhaust unless i have a little transmission leak that i havent found.. any advice would be appreciated

[Morph]

What does it smell like?

Burning oil, coolant, rubber, wood, paper?

[NateB26]

its almost odorless, closer to oil than anything but i know its smoke and not steam - its definitely not coolant, and my car is nowhere near overheating... at first i thought it was some old paper or leaves or whatever else gets stuck down there but after i took off all the plastic and shift boot, vacumed up everything in there it continued to smoke every once in a while. i am 99% sure its not coming from inside the car- like any loose stereo wires or anything, it looks like its coming from under the shifter bracket

[Morph]

There is a drain or overflow tube for the trans that is near there i would check that to see if its cracked or plugged. Prob not it but kinda hard if the smoke has no odor.

Does it do it if the car is idling?
Modified by Morph at 6:43 AM 3/31/2010

[anti_flag_army]

It could be an oil leak and while driving on the freeway its being blown back to say the exhaust and burning off and smoking into the car (happened to my miata)

[barefoot mat]

it might be the main trans. shift boot. thats what mine was. cracked damn -near in half.

[NateB26]

There is a drain or overflow tube for the trans that is near there i would check that to see if its cracked or plugged. Prob not it but kinda hard if the smoke has no odor.

Does it do it if the car is idling?

Modified by Morph at 6:43 AM 3/31/2010

it might be the main trans. shift boot. thats what mine was. cracked damn -near in half.

What is the main transmission shift boot? is it hard to replace? the overflow tube itself could be cracked? And yea it never smokes while idling, only after i get on the freeway... only seen smoke one time in third gear...

[keow123]

Your only hope is to look under the car for any leakage that's being burned some how. Or another solution is to remove the center console to see whats burning. It could be oil, coolant, transmission fluid, etc. Another idea is to check all valves, gaskets, loose bolts to see what is loose and may cause the problem. I hope this helps

[crakin]

check your exhaust pipe maybe to see if therre are any burn residue spots on it. It may give you a lead.

[Jacototheb]

Mine was doing that today.

So I took the center console out and it was full of cigarette ashes...

It was just the ashes coming up through the boot and cause the windows were down it was pulling it out.

[NateB26]

So i took off the entire center console and found that the rubber boot under the other rubber boot thats under the shift boot is torn. It looks like somebody at some point tried to zip tie this little boot but if the smoke is coming up through this tear that means it is coming from inside my transmission, right? So if indeed it is coming from my transmission what should I do? just change the fluid? btw, my friend said he saw it smoke like that three years ago when he was driving it from so. cal to the bay area and failed to tell me... but the smoke doesnt seem to affect the driveability of the car at all

[LBC.S14]

this is a super common problem. Everyone ive known with a 240 has had this happen. i have duct tape holding mine together til i get the seal

[iLLusive240^]

is your transmission doing anything weird? if not its not the transmission it might just be ventilating...

[240mph240]

While driving in fifth gear with just the passenger window down, the same white, odorless smoke would come from by boot. I noticed it about 2 years before selling it. Never had a transmission problems, not even a grind, or engine problem for that matter. The only known leakage was a SLOW power sterring leak.

[kc240guy]

That zip tie is factory. Just order a new boot from courtestparts.com

[NateB26]

ok, but is the smoke normal? why is it smoking in the first place?

[thompsn]

Mine burns gear oil from the shifter too, only in fifth gear at 3000rpm or more.I've heard alot of 240s leak from the shifter.

[NateB26]

Mine burns gear oil from the shifter too, only in fifth gear at 3000rpm or more.I've heard alot of 240s leak from the shifter.

is there anything to do about it or should i just ignore it? where would I refill the gear oil (if thats even needed)? or is a little smoke ok?

[krash]

I've actually never heard of this.

Anyway, to refill the gear oil, look on the side of the trans (drivers side). There should be a square drain plug. Take that plug out and fill it until the oil comes out of the drain plug hole. You can take your shifter assembly off and pour the oil through there if you find it easier.